Chenopodium album is known by many common names such as White goosefoot, pigweed, lambsquaters and Bathua (Hindi), Chandan betu (Bengali), Parupukkirai (Tamil), Pappukura (Telugu) and Katu ayamoddakam (Malyalam). This leafy vegetable is actually a weed that grows in waste places and with other cultivated crops. It occurs throughout the tropical regions of world. Human are consuming its leaves and seeds for time immemorial. In several countries this plant is cultivated for its seeds. There are many medicinal uses of goosefoot and used as home remedies.

In India the leaves are consumed as leafy vegetable and cooked like any other Saag, curd bathua raita and Bathua paratha. The leaves are boiled and eaten. The raita and Paratha of Bathua leaves are also tasty preparation. The dried leaves of goosefoot are ground to make powder that can be added to regular flour. In one cup regular flour you can add one-fourth goosefoot powder. Bathua seeds are edible. They are very nutritious and contain whole set of essential amino acids.

Bathua or Goosefoot Seeds

Bathua seeds are ground to make flour that is used to prepare bread. The seeds are also cooked as rice and can be eaten with Dal. Nutritionally Bathua seeds are superior to wheat, rice, corn, millet and Buckwheat. The seeds are also prepared as soup, porridge, cakes, fermented beverage (known as Soora in Shimla), alcoholic drink (Ghanti), etc. The seeds are given to animals and poultry as supplements.

Seeds are also used medicinally for improving appetite, or treating parasitic infestation, as aphrodisiac, laxative and for improving general health.

Health Benefits of Bathua or Goosefoot

Goosefoot or Bathua leaves and seeds are very nutritious. They are non-toxic and consumed all across the world for centuries. Like any other leafy vegetable they offer innumerable health benefits.

10 important health benefits are given below.

Bathua leaves are very good source of high quality protein, nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins, particularly vitamin c and vitamin A. Its vitamin A content is comparable to carrots. About 2 cups of leaves provides 14, 000-16, 000 units of vitamin A (daily requirement is about 5000 units) and 60-130 mg of vitamin C (daily requirement is 70mg)

The leaves are rich in fibre and have laxative properties which cures constipation. Due to this property Bathua is also useful in piles.

Bathua seeds are rich in amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of the body and performs several important function in the body.

Bathua leaves are a good source of potassium, iron, calcium, and zinc.

Bathua is good for the heart. It is considered heart tonic.

Bathua leaves are good for the liver, spleen and gall bladder. You may drink 10 ml juice of leaves for keeping digestive system healthy.

The juice of Bathua leaves purifies blood.

Bathua improves haemoglobin level.

Bathua leaves juice is a traditional medicine for intestinal parasites. For this purpose 10-15 ml juice of leaves is added with pinch of rock salt and is taken three times a day after meals.

Bathua improves appetite. You may use leaves as Salad with tomato, lemon juice and pinch of salt.

Medicinal use of bathua is as follows

For kidney stone

it is very effective and useful in the problem of the kidney stone. Take tender leaves and branches of leaves and grind them to extract its juice and take 10-15 gm of it daily with or without water. This also reduces the tendency of stone formation.

For inner swelling

When bathua taken internally it helps to reduce internal swelling.

For external swelling

For external swelling cook leaves of bathua in steam and apply at place of swelling this help to reduce swelling.

For jaundice

Take bathua and giloy ras and mix them in equal proportion and take 25- 30 gm of it daily twice a day.

For irregular period

Take bathua seeds and sonth(dry ginger powder) make powder 15-20n gm boil in 400 gm of water when it reduces to 100 gm drain it and drink twice a day.

For curing infections after delivery

Take 10 gm of bathua, ajwain, methi and jaggery add dashmol and take for 10-15 days.

For anemia

Take 25-50 gm of bathua ras (juice extract from leaves after crushing) daily.

For urinary tract infections(UTI): Take 10 gm of bathua leaves ras add 50 ml of water and take with misri(candy sugar) take regularly.

For Blood purification

When bathua ras taken with 4-5 neem leaves ras it works as blood purifier.

Side-effects, interactions and Precautions

Bathua leaves contain significant amount of oxalic acids. Oxalates are in highest in leaves followed by flowers and stem. Oxalic acid has tendency to bind with calcium and this reduces availability of calcium.

The seeds of the plant are abortifacient. They can cause abortion. So do not eat in pregnancy.

The plant has anti-fertility effect.

Recipe For making Bathua Paratha

Bathua is very nutritious but it is not liked by kids when cooked as bhaji due to its taste. So instead try it as paratha I am sure they will like it and will ask for more.

Recipe for bathua paratha

Ingredients

Bathua 200gm

Atta (Wheat flour)2 cups

Chili 2

Red chili powder 1 tbs

Roasted cumin seeds ½ tbs

Salt as per taste

Procedure

First of all select from bathua bunch its tender leaves and branches discard very rigid part such as root portion. Wash thus selected leaves with water till all dust or soil is removed otherwise the taste of paratha will be spoiled with dirt.

Take clean bathua leaves and chop it finely with knife and add salt and green chopped chilies to it and leave for 5 mins.

Take atta and add salt, red chili powder and roasted cumin seeds(jeera) , make sure you do not add too much salt as already salt is added to bathua.

Add bathua to flour and mix well, add water and knead well to form soft dough. You may leave this dough for 15 mins or if in hurry use instantly.

Divide dough into small balls and roll out in the form of roti and then cook it on hot tawa.